Thoughts for THURSDAY

Today is my MOM's birthday.. It makes me sad that she lives 3 hours from me and I can't see her on her birthday. I am so grateful for everything she has done for me. I think since I have had kids I appreciate her more than I have ever have. I am not sure it is that I know how hard it is to raise kids and do everything for your kids or what it is...but I don't know how she did it all these years being a single mom with 2 small kids... I am forever grateful that she raised me to be the woman I am today.. Happy birthday MOM I love you :)

ALSO ITS THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL :)  This year I moved to teach middle school, 6th grade. It was an amazing year and I will miss these students. I can't wait for next year!!!

What's Up Wednesday

I have not done a What's Up Wednesday in who knows how long!! So here we go :)

Linking up with Shay for this fun What's up Wednesday

What we're eating this week....

This week is our last week of school, so I been running around crazy to find things to eat. I been on Pinterest trying to find anything that is super quick and easy!

What  I'm Reminiscing about....

My sweet baby boy Porter who is growing up way to fast. I feel like he was just a baby that would cuddle with me all day long. Now he is non stop everywhere..

What I'm Loving.....

Loving all the bright summer clothes that are coming out. I am not loving the hot weather that comes along with it though

What we've been up to.....

We have been so busy over where lately. 2 weeks ago my little one had her dance recital and it was the sweetest thing ever. She did such a great job. I can see her sticking with dancing in the future.

What I'm dreading.....

School is out and there will be long days with the kids...trying to come up with ideas and things to do with them will be a challenge. I am so excited to be able to spend the summer with them but at the same time keeping them busy, will be hard.....

What I'm Working on...

Wrapping my first year teaching middle school up. Packing up my classroom and having 2 months off.

What I'm excited about.....

Our family summer vacation in July. We are going to go to Hammock Beach Resort, and try something different.  My husband is excited to go golfing there and I am excited to lay by the beach and read a good book :)

What I'm watching/reading....

I just finished my first book by Elin Hilderbrand. I will say I really liked it.  Now starting Here's to Us!!       

       

                                                                          

What I'm Listing to....

I have been listening to a lot of calm music, and my kids in the background hollering

What I'm Wearing...

any thing that is comfy and not hot.

What I'm doing this weekend....

This weekend we have 3 birthday parties for my little one. I feel like our little girls social life is taking over ours. She has more playdates and birthdays then anyone I know of!!

What I'm looking forward to next month...

Spending time with my babies and being off for the summer

What else is new.....

Just trying to be the best mommy to my 2 little ones.. Living life. I also started using more Essential Oils in our house and turning our house in to a nontoxic chemical place. When I found out all the chemicals I was using around the house it freaked me out. So we are onto switching things out!!

 







2 days left!!!!

I officially have 2 days left of school....until SUMMER BREAK :) Now I have to come up with a schedule and sticker chart for my kids. When Lily Jane gets board all she wants to do is eat. So i signed her up for VBS, summer camps, swim lessons, and we are taking 1 family trip :)


Summer time, summer time, Sum Sum Summer time!  Okay…I got into a little song there.  I guess knowing that summer is just around the corner has me excited.  I am not the only one feeling the joy either.  My kids are floating around just counting down the days till school is out.
One thing I love about summer is that we have more time as a FAMILY to relax and have fun together.  It is important to PLAN some family fun ahead of time so you don’t miss out.
Here are some fun ideas for a summer break bucket list for families that will create lasting memories!  You may not have time to do everything on the list, but have everyone vote on their top choices and strive to get as many activities done as you can. I have compiled a list of 25 FUN and EASY ideas to get your thinking caps on!

Summer Break Bucket List for Families

1. Have a Water Gun Fight:  this is fun for all ages and there are tons of awesome water guns and bazookas to choose from these days!
2. Have a Fashion Show:  this isn’t only for girls either….the whole family can dress up and walk the catwalk! Don’t forget the hair and makeup either!
3. Do a Building Project Together:  grab the supplies and build a birdhouse, model airplane, etc.  Find some fun building projects and get to work building.
4. Make Your Own DIY Drive-In Movie at Home: making a drive-in movie at home isn’t as hard as you think. Grab your families favorite movie and enjoy the summer evening.
5. Grow a Garden:  whether you are a beginning gardener or a master…it is fun to garden together as a family.  You may just want to start some container gardens with the kids.  Whatever you grow will be a good learning experience for everyone.
6. Have a Lemonade Stand:  I think having a lemonade stand is a rite of passage for children and they will love to do it with YOU!
7. Have a Water Balloon Fight:  a great way to stay cool and have a blast too.  Water balloon fights are especially fun on a trampoline!
8. Have a Camp Out:  this can be done in the backyard or at your area lake.  Either way will be fun for everyone.
9. Go on a Family Hike: 
10. Have a Play Dough Creating Contest:  grab the play dough and get creative.  Have different contests for play dough creations, who is fastest, etc.  Someone can even make a trophy for the winnner…out of play dough, LOL!
11. Go Fly a Kite:  it is sad to think how many kids have never actually flown a kite.  Be looking for the perfect summer day and go outside and fly kites together.
12. Do a Play as a Family:  how about a little theater?  Write a play that will fit your family and then act it out.  I know this will create a lot of laughter and memories.
13. Dance Party:  put on some loud music and just dance, dance, dance.  It cracks me up every time we do this and we always have fun.
14. Make Homemade Ice Cream:  making homemade ice cream doesn’t even require an ice cream maker anymore.  Everyone can pick their favorite flavor and it can be dessert for dinner night.
15. Play in the Sprinkler:  I love my memories of playing in the sprinkler. The only way those memories could be improved was if my parents had played in the sprinkler with me.  So go out and play in the sprinkler together with the whole family!!
16. Go Geocaching:  this is a fun experience to do as a family and summer is the perfect time of year.
17. Lego Mania:  have a huge lego creating night and everyone just builds, builds, builds.  Try making a giant lego creation together as a family.  What can you come up with?
18. Have a Bonfire and Cookout:  get the fire pit going and roast hot dogs, marshmallows and relax around the fire.
19. Look at the Stars:  drive into the country and look at the stars.  See how many constellations you can find in the night sky.
20. Game Night:  schedule some game nights during the summer.  Play outside on the deck if it is a nice evening.  Let each family member have a turn picking the game.
21. Feed the Ducks:  I don’t know why feeding the ducks and geese is so fun…but it always entertains my family.  We usually feed the ducks multiple times during the summer.  Save up that day old bread!
22. Play Outside:  there are so many fun outdoor games to be played.  Spend a summer day playing foursquare, frisbee, kickball and more!
23. Blow Bubbles:  blowing bubbles and running through them is fun for any age.  Get a bubble blower machine and really have a blast!
24. Make a DIY Pinata:  make a pinata at home as a family and then fill it up and get busy busting it open!
25. Go Swimming:  summer isn’t summer without some swimming, right?  Find a pool or water park that you haven’t visited before and go swimming there as a family.

 

Found this cute list at the crafting chicks ;) I love a lot of things on this list too!!! 

Dusting her off!!!!!!

WOW.....time has gone by and I could not get to the point to visit my blog and write a post..

 

 I was struggling personally with being a mom of 2 and trying to figure life out.. I still don't have it figured out but I do know one thing I started to blog almost 5 years ago to capture our little families journey and I am going to come back to do what I started this little space for.


I really struggled looking at everyone else blog seeing how do they have it all together......how do they have time to have kids.....have an amazing blog...be an amazing mom... and rocking everything they did.... Then I realized I need to stop comparing my life to everyone else and just write from my heart. I want to document out little life the good the bad and ugly... Let's be real with each other life is not always rainbows and butterfly's but sometimes people are afraid to let that show... They only want to show the good. So I am coming back to my little blog and writing more about our life and what we are doing with our Kids!!!!



I really have missed all the wonderful mommies and girls I have met through this space... SO now it's my plan to shoot for 2-3 times a week :) it's summer I am off from teaching and will have more time.. Mostly summer camps, swim lessons, training and spending time with my little ones..



I can't believe it  Lily Jane is 4.5 years old and Porter is already 1.... Life fly by you in a blink of the eye...

Our sweet Lily Jane was a flower girl this weekend !!!!!!!